Chinese Restaurants Collection | Special Collections and University Archives

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Title
Chinese Restaurants Collection

Collection Number
SC 454

OCLC Number
1040035577

Creator
Various

Provenance
Donated by anthropologist Sidney W. Mintz in 2014.

Extent, Scope, and Content Note
The Chinese Restaurants Collection includes 1.3 linear ft. of Chinese restaurant menus, matchbooks, and business cards ca. 1960-2000 and collected by Sidney W. Mintz.

Arrangement and Processing Note
The collection is arranged in the order in which it was received. The collection was processed by Kristen J. Nyitray in 2014.
Updated by Kristen J. Nyitray in May 2019.

Language(s)
English, Chinese, French, Dutch

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.

Rights and Permissions
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission where needed prior to publication.

Citation
[Item], [Box], Chinese Restaurant Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.

Historical Note
A matchbook is a small paperboard folder (matchcover) enclosing a quantity of matches and having a coarse striking surface on the exterior. The folder is opened to access the matches, which are attached in a comb-like arrangement and must be torn away before use in contrast to a matchbox where the matches are loosely packed in the interior tray. The exterior of the matchcover is usually imprinted with a producer's logo, often with artistic decorations, or serves as an advertising/promotional medium for the undertaking by which it is sold or given away. The ease of making matchcovers of different shapes also made them quite a popular cheap promotional item or anniversary souvenir. Manufacturing of matchbooks peaked during the 1940s and 1950s, then steadily declined because of the availability of disposable lighters and various anti-smoking health campaigns. Recently, matchbooks have begun to regain some of their popularity as a "retro" advertising item, particularly in high-end restaurants. (Sources: Wikipedia; Heron, Katrina October 20, 2009: "A New Old Freebie: Restaurant Matches Return."The New York Times)

Subjects
Chinese restaurants.
Restaurants -- Menus.
Matchcovers.
Matches.
Business cards.
Restaurants.
Cooking, Chinese -- Social aspects.
Chinese restaurants -- Social aspects.
Ethnic restaurants.
Family-owned business enterprises.
National characteristics, Chinese.
Chinese -- Cultural assimilation.
Chinese -- Ethnic identity.
Immigrants -- Cultural assimilation.
Restaurateurs.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Matchbooks

Box 2
Matchbooks
Business cards

Restaurants and locations include:

Name of Restaurant: Au Petit Tai
Location: Paris, France

Name of Restaurant: Azie
Location: Holland

Name of Restaurant: Bill Chan’s Gold Coin
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Charlie Chiang’s Restaurant & Lounge
Location: North West, Washington, DC

Name of Restaurant: Cheng Du Restaurant
Location: West Hartford, Connecticut

Name of Restaurant: Chinese Restaurant
Location: Copacabana Beach

Name of Restaurant: China House Restaurant
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Chiu-Chow Inn
Location: London, UK

Name of Restaurant: Chung Cha Fu
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Chung Yang
Location: The Netherlands

Name of Restaurant: City Lights of China Restaurant
Location: North West, Washington, DC

Name of Restaurant: Fu Ling
Location: Los Angeles, California

Name of Restaurant: Golden Crown
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

Name of Restaurant: Grandview Gardens
Location: Los Angeles, California

Name of Restaurant: Healthy Mess, Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Ho’s Pauilion
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: House of Gong
Location: Dallas, Texas

Name of Restaurant: House of Hunan
Location: Washington, DC

Name of Restaurant: “China”
Location: The Netherlands

Name of Restaurant: Hunam Taste Restaurant
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Hunam
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Hunan
Location: Dallas, Texas

Name of Restaurant: Hunan Wok Restaurant
Location: West Orange, NJ

Name of Restaurant: Jade West
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Janice Chen’s Double Happy Restaurant
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Jung Lam Restaurant
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

Name of Restaurant: Kingfisher Restaurant
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

Name of Restaurant: Latitude 20 °
Location: Torrance, California

Name of Restaurant: Lee’s Restaurant
Location: Chinatown, NY

Name of Restaurant: Long Wah Restaurant & Tavern
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Long Wah Restaurant & Tavern
Location: West Kitchener, Ontario

Name of Restaurant: Lotus Eaters East
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Maniwa-Ya
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Name of Restaurant: Mee Mee Restaurant
Location: Kingston, Jamaica

Name of Restaurant: Nam Yuen
Location: Chinatown, San Francisco

Name of Restaurant: On Luck Rice Shape
Location: NY, N.Y.

Name of Restaurant: Peking Express Restaurant
Location: Princeton Junction, N.J.

Name of Restaurant: Peking on Fresh Pond
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Name of Restaurant: Peking Park Restaurant
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Polynesian Village
Location: Maryland

Name of Restaurant: Restaurante Chino Casa Chan
Location: Madrid

Name of Restaurant: Roof Garden Restaurant
Location: Chinatown, San Francisco

Name of Restaurant: Seaking Garden Restaurant
Location: Liyemen, Kowloon

Name of Restaurant: Silver Palace Restaurant
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Soko Rendezvous
Location: London, UK

Name of Restaurant: Sun Luck Imperial
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Sun Luck Queens & Sunnyside
Location: New York

Name of Restaurant: Sun Yah Restaurant
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Szechwan
Location: California

Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Inn
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Inn
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Restaurant
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Name of Restaurant: Szechuan & Hunan Cuisine
Location: North East, Washington DC

Name of Restaurant: Szechuan & Hunan Cuisine
Location: North East, Washington, DC

Name of Restaurant: Tai-Tung
Location: Flushing, NY

Name of Restaurant: Taiwak Restaurant
Location: Berkeley, California

Name of Restaurant: Ted Liu’s
Location: North West, Washington, DC

Name of Restaurant: Temple Garden
Location: Chinatown, NY

Name of Restaurant: The Village Chinese Restaurant
Location: London, UK

Name of Restaurant: Tom’s Shangri- LA
Location: NY, NY

Name of Restaurant: Top of Chinatown
Location: Unknown

Name of Restaurant: Trudie Ball’s Empress
Location: North West, Washington, DC

Box 3

Menus (7 folders)